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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

I am seeing my doctor but in the meantime, can anybody put my mind at rest?

20 replies

woowoo2 · 05/09/2011 12:21

I have all the symptoms of bowel cancer - as found on the NHS and BUPA websites.

I am seeing my doc AGAIN on weds and have blood tests today too. Can anybody help put my mind at rest about bowel cancer and my symptoms?

OP posts:

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Elibean · 05/09/2011 12:31

What are your symptoms? Most BC symptoms are also symptoms of several other, non-malignant conditions...but know from experience that nothing will put minds to rest like the doctor/tests can....and its good that you're booked in

mumblechum1 · 05/09/2011 12:34

Hmm, I had bowel cancer 7 years ago and didn't have ANY of the obvious symptoms, just a tummy ache when I ate.

Please don't assume that because you have certain symptoms, you have cancer. Lots of things such as Crohns disease have very similar symptoms and are treatable.

btw, I made a very quick and succesful recovery from BC, the tumour was removed within a week of diagnosis and I was up, redecorating my bedroom two weeks after surgery. Although I was on chemo for six months, I only had to take one day off work.

So even if the worst does happen, you have a very good chance of making an excellent recovery.

mumblechum1 · 05/09/2011 12:34

btw the bood test was the main clue, as I was extremely anaemic (but just felt tired)

tallulah · 05/09/2011 12:51

I was dx with bowel cancer in Feb after a barium enema and a CT scan. In my case my bloods didn't show anything. My GP told me it "obviously wasn't anything serious or it would have shown up in the bloods". It was and it didn't :(

(Both my own GP and another I saw at the practice apologised to me)

What are your symptoms?

woowoo2 · 05/09/2011 12:51

I am tired, weak, feel faint and dizzy, feel or am sick everytime I eat (I have forced a salad down me today - its taken sonce 11am and I am still going) have constant diahorrea (sp) lose blood when going to the toilet (sometimes fresh, sometimes old), lots of pain in my right side and an obvious swelling in my tummy. I feel a permanent straining feeling in my back passage. I feel permanently constipated, like there is a huge build up in my tummy, yet have the runs every day.

OP posts:

woowoo2 · 05/09/2011 12:53

I think I am worrying that it is bc because we have a history of it in our family

OP posts:

tallulah · 05/09/2011 13:17

Oh. That sounds dodgy. The symptom I didn't realise was a symptom which is quite a big one is that feeling that when you've been to the loo you've never quite finished.

FWIW the time from dx to surgery for me was only a couple of weeks. All the medical people I've seen have been so kind and so willing to go through everything again and again. And they tell you straight and in basic language so that you understand what they are telling you and there is no room for interpretation.

The surgery was fine and I was out of hospital in 3 days. I've just finished chemo and that was horrible- unlike mumblechum I have had to have a day off work most cycles because of either being sick or having diarrhoea, but it's over now.

I hope we are both wrong and that you've got some lesser problem. Good luck.

woowoo2 · 05/09/2011 13:19

The symptom I didn't realise was a symptom which is quite a big one is that feeling that when you've been to the loo you've never quite finished

How frightening, this is how I always feel

OP posts:

Elibean · 05/09/2011 17:59

I think those can also all be symptoms of Crohns, though. It all sounds very scary for you, and painful/uncomfortable too - is there no way you can see your doc sooner? What did he/she say last time?

Elibean · 05/09/2011 18:00

Tallulah, congrats on finishing chemo

tallulah · 05/09/2011 19:27

Thanks . I was very lucky to get onto a Trial and was randomly allocated the experimental short course of chemo ( fortnightly for 3 months). I don't know how people cope with 6 months of it.

woowoo try not to worry (I know that's difficult) but make sure your GP realises how worried you are and refers you. My GP felt certain I didn't have cancer but referred me anyway and once you get into the hospital system if they find anything it is super quick. I had less than 2 weeks for the Barium enema, was called back just over a week later for a CT scan, then within 2 weeks I'd been called in to be told it was cancer and given a date for the surgery. They don't hang about. GP referral was 26 Jan, surgery was 17 march, which is only 7 weeks, and 2 tests in between.

kaylasmum · 05/09/2011 20:13

hi woowoo2,

Just wanted to say that i'm going through a similar worry just now. I've had bowel problems for the last few weeks. I've got ibs and suffer from extreme anxiety so my problems could be down to that. I spoke to my gp and she's going to refer e for a colonoscopy. Im really scared but i realise it has to be done.

How long have you been having those symptoms? I also wanted to say that the feeling of still needing to go after you've been is extremely common with ibs, its called incomplete evacuation. I hope you manage to see your gp soon and get peace of mind.

Tallulah - pleased to hear you've got through your chemo, it must be a relief to have that behind you.

Beauregard · 05/09/2011 23:15

My friend had exactly the same symptoms and was diagnosed with Colitis not cancer.

ThingOne · 06/09/2011 09:37

You poor thing. You sound very scared. I was dx with colorectal cancer four years ago and I am here, waving at you. Please don't google, as there are so many variables in any disease. And the results thrown up are often out-of-date, wrong, or bollocks.

Elibean · 06/09/2011 12:53

Let us know how you get on tomorrow, woowoo, will be thinking of you x

Tallulah, thats great - I do remember you were waiting to start, and here you are finished. Seems a short time ago to me, but bet it doesn't to you! I did 12 months of chemo (of a sort) for something other than cancer, years ago, and nowadays they only give 6 months: I think a lot of treatments are moving towards being refined down to the amount necessary, rather than hammers and nuts. Hope the recovery process is going well.

And, sorry to hijack, woowoo

PuppyMonkey · 06/09/2011 12:57

I have a sister with colitis and a brother with Crohn's and both had symptoms very like this. But you're going to the doctors so they will sort you. Good luck.

25goingon95 · 07/09/2011 11:44

How scary for you woowoo. Hope it turns out to be something else, good luck at the doctors x

tallulah · 07/09/2011 16:56

Elibean I am on the SCOT trial, so only got 12 weeks of chemo (6 treatments), which is probably why it doesn't seem very long

exaspomum · 20/09/2011 15:14

Good luck woowoo - what a horrible time of it you're having. It could be lots of things as the others have said. Very bad constipation can give you something called 'overflow' diarrhoea. A lady I know had very similiar symptoms caused by a massive NON-Malignant tumour. Even if it is cancer it's very treatable. Worrying about what might be is so horrible. They'll soon get you a diagnosis.

kblu · 22/09/2011 18:10

Was going to say the same as Pelvicfloornomore. My sister had most of those symptoms and has just been diagnosed with Colitis.

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